Black Power apology for Australian sprinter Peter Norman 48 years in the making

PETER Norman, the Australian sprinter who was blacklisted for supporting the Black Power protesters at the 1968 Mexico Olympic Games, may receive an apology from the Australian parliament.

Norman, who died in 2006 aged 64, ran second in the men's 200m final and won the silver medal.

On the podium, he wore an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge to support African-American athletes Tommie Smith (gold) and John Carlos (bronze), who gave the black power salute.

Norman was punished but allowed to stay in Mexico for the rest of the Olympics. However, in 1972, he was overlooked for the Munich Olympics by the Australian selectors despite meeting the qualification standards.

The apology will be debated in Parliament next Monday by MP Rob Oakeshott, Sport Biz Insider reported.

Sport Biz Insider reports the wording of the debate will be:

"That this House; Recognises the extraordinary athletic achievements of the late Peter Norman, who won the silver medal in the 200 metres sprint running at the 1968 Mexico City Olympics, in a time of 20.06 seconds, which still stands as the Australian record;

Acknowledges the bravery of Peter Norman in donning an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge on the podium, in solidarity with African-American athletes Tommie Smith and John Carlos, who gave the black power salute;

Apologises to Peter Norman for the wrong done by Australia in failing to send him to the 1972 Munich Olympics, despite repeatedly qualifying; and Belatedly recognises the powerful role that Peter Norman played in furthering racial equality."

In a 2005 interview, Norman said he supported Smith and Carlos because he was sympathetic to their situation.

At his funeral in 2006, Carlos said:

"We knew that what we were going to do was far greater than any athletic feat. He said, 'I'll stand with you'."

He said he expected to see fear, but he didn't. "I saw love. Peter never flinched (on the dais). He never turned his eyes, he never turned his head. He never said so much as 'ouch'."

The debate will be led by Dr Andrew Leigh of the ALP from Canberra. There will be seven speakers involved and Oakeshott believes the apology should pass without any problems.